Saturday, October 20, 2012

Heading to the windy city for a few days...




Hello Darlings,

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!  Why am I blogging at almost 9pm on a Saturday night?  It's because I am going to Chicago for a few days for a recharge.  Tomorrow I get to have dinner with an old Navy friend and coworker on the Magnificent Mile, then catch the red line to go see New Order in one of only 7 cities in the U.S!!  Monday catches the Diva getting her culture and fashion on with trips to the Art Institute of Chicago ( research for my book and inspiration as a painter) a stroll down Michigan ave with a stop at all the greats ( window shopping only!) and then off to IKEA before heading back to reality.  I am so excited words can not capture it!!  When I get back I will tell you how to pack small for a big city trip and all about my adventures in Chicago.  I hope the rest of your weekend will be as fun as mine.  Stay Fabulous!!


XoXo,

Mitchy

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Rescue me!!




Hello Darlings,


I told you earlier I was going to be an individual review on all the products from the Influenster  2012 Bride to Be VoxBox.  I decided to do this one first since it comes from a line of products I have been using for almost 20 years.  I was uber excited that I was going to be able to test this out for free.  If you have never heard of Bach Flower Remedies I will give you a little background information on them. At the age of 43(1930) Dr Edward Bach decided to give up standard medicine to become a naturopath, he knew he could find a way to treat patients with natural remedies using flower essences.  They have had Flower Remedies since 1932.  He has written many papers on Flower Remedies that are very interesting to read.  I have used the Original Rescue Remedy to help me deal with stress for a long time.  I took it everywhere from a Naval aircraft carrier to SXSW in Austin TX.  The gum has 4 drops of the original essence in it, which is your average dose.  It does taste better than the liquid Rescue Remedy and it is nice not pulling out a little jar and dropping liquid under your tongue!  I did get asked one time with the dropper if I was taking drugs!!  I have been super stressed out lately and this gum was help more than I expected it to.  I will be keeping this in my purse from now on and keep the drops at home.  I am excited to try the pastilles with the coupon they gave me!  All Diva's need relief and why not do it the natural way, a way that has been used for decades instead of filling our bodies with synthetic chemicals. I'm going to leave the link with you so you can learn the whole story and more about natural remedies  With the holidays quickly approaching, I know I  will be stocking up on the gum,drops and possibly the pastilles.  I hope you are having a fabulous Fall and we will be chatting very soon!!


XoXo,

Mitchy






Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Influenster's 2012 Bridal VoxBox!!




Hello Darlings,

As some of you know I plan on trying the not in the next year, so I was really excited when Influenster let me in their 2012 Bridal VoxBox.  As always, the products were free and no one is paying me or holding a gun to my head to tell you about the cool stuff I got.  For those of us who have single friends looking to be in a happy and healthy relationship, they gave us a promo code for Ivy Date.  My favorite out of all the products were the new Schwarzkopf Professional - BC Hairtherapy Repair Rescue products.  My hair is trashed from all the color changes this summer, so I really needed this.  The shampoo and conditioner rock and the leave in treatment is amazing!  They also included a Rescue Remedy gum.  I have used Bach's Rescue Remedy drops for almost 20 years now to help with stress and to calm my nerves.  I even brought it out to sea with me when I was in the NAVY.  This is another product that I will be buying when I am finished.  To keep our eyes looking their finest they included the newest false lashes from Kiss.  Who doesn't want to look doe eyed on their big day??  Last but not least I am getting to try Dream Water, an all natural sleep aid.  I look forward to going into greater detail of the products, each will have a whole post about it with pictures and helpful how to's!!  As always I will be honest with you and have fun doing it.  Until we chat again, stay warm and fabulous!!


XoXo,

Mitchy

A little about me.




Hello Darlings,

I hope that Fall is treating you as good as it is me!  I realized the other day that I really haven't given you a chance to know me, so I figured I would tell you about myself so you know who all the advice is coming from.  Let's start from the beginning I guess!  I grew up on the lakeshore of Wisconsin, I think it was a great place to grow up.  I lost my mother to cancer when I was 10 years old.  She was a very glamorous woman who even when going through chemo made sure she looked fabulous.  She taught me at a young age how to have great style, be a great hostess  do makeup, know what a good perfume is, how to love classic film and most of all, how to be a kind and giving person.  I knew since I was six years old I wanted to be a makeup artist and a princess when I grew up, I had gotten a Barbie makeup kit for Christmas one year and the dream began.  I grew up to be a makeup artist, still working on the princess part. I was 19 I joined the NAVY, those where some of the best years of my life.  After I got out of the military I started working as a makeup artist all over the country including fun places like Virginia Beach, Washington DC, Honolulu, Seattle and Austin Texas.  It was in Seattle that I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  I have had MS for over 7 years now,  some days are good and some not so much.  I no longer can do makeup do the hand tremors.  I did have to relearn some skills in Seattle due to losing vision in my right eye.  Almost 4 years ago I moved back to Wisconsin, close to an area where my family on both sides have lived for generations.  Now I paint, make jewelry, work on the 2 different books I am writing, donate time at one of the local museums, product test and of course, Blog.  I apologize in the past for disappearing  I was having some health issues.  From now on I plan on dedicating more time to you and this blog.  Expect to see some awesome Halloween goodies, reviews of some of the newest products on the market, tips on how to handle some issues that can happen with MS, some parts of one of my books and much, much more!!  I look forward to having a great time with you and thank you for reading my blog.  If you enjoy it please follow it and share it with your friends!  Have a lovely fall day and get ready to get your reading on.


XoXo,

Mitchy

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Keeping it smooth with a natural wax thanks to Parissa!




Hello Darlings,

Let's be blunt, we all get fuzzy where we don't want to be.  We have been through all the shaving, bleaching, hair cream removal and waxing in the world to find our perfect match.  This was not my match, but became a new holy grail for my divalicious friend Angie who got to test drive this for me after I found out I was allergic.  This was given to me for free from Influenster as part of their Natural VoxBox program.  Like all waxing kits make sure you do a test spot 24 hours in advance, no one wants to show up on a hot date with a rash!  Angie was stoked to try the Parissa wax since it was a natural product verses some of the chemical ones she had been using.  I'm going to use her exact quotes on the wax. She found it fast, easy, clean with no odors to deal with.  She also added that there was little pain or redness and that the azule oil cleaned the excess fast and felt soothing.  She is switching over to it and giving up all other hair removers!!  I'm glad that this worked out so well for her, she's pretty picky so it's got to be good.  As with all hair removal product follow ALL the instructions or you can end up damaging your skin.  I enjoy the fact that the Parissa website has a section dedicated to proper use.  They are very helpful to first time and veteran waxers.  Just because it's getting cold doesn't mean we have to start growing hair everywhere.  So stay on top of your grooming, it will keep you from getting the dreaded ingrown hairs.  I'm leaving you the link to the website and their how to section.  I look forward to hearing from you if you have any opinions on the Parissa line.  Until then, stay fabulous!!

http://parissa.com/
http://parissa.com/learn/tips


XoXo,

Mitchy

Beating MS fatigue with a boost from EBOOST!




Hello Darlings,

How do I stay so active with MS?  I get that question a LOT!  Eating healthy, getting enough exercise, relaxing, these all have to do with healthy living for everyone!  Influenster sent me a VoxBox full of free natural products to try and in it was a packet of EBOOST.  At first I was a bit sceptical about another vitamin/energy drink mix.  Most of them don't really work and taste bad.  So I decided to give this one a try before my daily workout.  It tasted great and helped me get my butt moving that day without any coffee!! I didn't get the jitters or crash you can get with some of the other energy drinks out there. I have tried the natural orange flavor and really enjoyed it.   The drink itself has an impressive list of vitamins and minerals we need plus an added boost with green tea. It has a TON of vitamin D in it as well and that is important to people with MS and women in general. I have recomended it to other people with MS who want a natural boost of energy vs synthetic medications or chemical filled drinks.  I look forward to trying the other flavors they have since I have had such luck with the orange.  Again this is a great product you can find at Whole Foods and online.  Their website has some great information on the product as well as other items that sound pretty cool.  We only have one body, we should take the best care of it that we can.  Because being healthy is the most beautiful glamorous thing we can do!!


Get more info at http://www.eboost.com


XoXo,

Mitchy

Keeping lippy with LypSyl


                                    LypMoisturizer™ Original Formula



Hello Darlings,

It's getting cold and windy out there, what are you doing to protect those pretty lips of yours?  In my Influenster Natural VoxBox was a little gem called LypSyl LypMoisturizer.  This freebie came to me in the nick of time, the weather up north is getting dry and my poor puckers were showing it.  I LOVE natural products, you all know that!  This product has a cute name and packaging (a little bee is the push up for the balm!) but it packs a strong combination of organic shea butter, coconut oil, vitamins A & E and pure Swedish beeswax.  I feel like it hydrates my lips and seals the moisture in.  I really like the fact that it doesn't feel greasy or make my lips look waxy.  There are no gimmicky things like retinol, crushed pearls, magic rainbows in here.  It's just a great natural lip moisturizer with some nice organic ingredients.  It's hard to find where I live, which is going to make me think about buying a new one when I run out.  For the time being I am going to keep using it and loving it, and maybe I will order it online when I run out.  If you can find it, definitely get yourself a tube and if you are desperately looking for a good natural lip treatment you can order it online.  Here is a picture of my happy lips and a link to the site to get your own LypSyl.  Remember to keep those lips protected at night as well, now that the heat is on our skin gets drier!






XoXo,

Mitchy

Every Diva's kitchen necessity, The Original Dish Drying Mat.




Hello Darlings,

Who doesn't love little things that make our lives in the kitchen easier?  I recently got the Influenster Natural VoxBox and my favorite item by far in it was The Original Dish Drying Mat! I've been curious about the product when I heard about it from a past VoxBox, so I was really excited to try it for free!!  This has become a lifesaver in my life.  I collect vintage milk glass and crystal, I also own quite a few hand wash only items. I also have a treatment I use on the semi precious stone jewelry I make that leaves them needing a place to evenly dry. I hated putting them on kitchen towels since they are fuzzy and uneven but I didn't like using paper toweling since it was a waste and made a mess.  The Original Dish Drying Mat is made with layers of microfiber and  foam.  It can hold up to four times it's water, so you don't have to worry about a wet mess on your countertop.  It is also cushioned so I don't have to worry about favorite wine glass crashing to the ground. Since I have nonstick cookware this comes in handy on a near daily basis since you really should hand wash your nonstick. This is great to but under your dishracks to soak up all that water, it's really a great multitasking tool.  The best part, it's less than $5 at Bed Bath and Beyond!!  That is less cash than your daily Starbucks.  I am thinking of keeping a few around to throw in housewarming gifts and the random gift pack for parties.  I really do think this is something that everyone should have around.  Here are a few pictures of how I use mine as well as the link to get your own. Until we chat again, stay fabulous!!







XoXo,

Mitchy

A Diva's opinion on Clean Well Natural Hand Sanitizer wipes. Thyme oil vs Alcohol and the winner is..




Hello Darlings,

As we all know cold and flu season are here!!  I personally just spent a week on bed rest with a pretty rough chest cold.  One of the ways we can all help prevent the spread of these nasty germs is making sure we keep our hands clean.  I was lucky enough to be a part of Influenster's Natural VoxBox where I was able to to try Clean Well Natural Hand Sanitizer for free. This a unique sanitizer since they use Thyme oil instead of your standard alcohol.  Here are some of the medicinal properties of Thyme oil: Antiviral, Antibiotic and Antiseptic   There is a  lot more to list, but these are what it is mainly used most for. In many countries essential oils have been used for centuries to cure various ailments   A lot of people, myself included still use essential oil therapy as a healthier alternative to synthetic chemicals.
I really like these, there is no weird alcohol smell, no  funky chemicals and my favorite part, it doesn't have that horrible stinging feeling that most of them do. As a painter, jewelry maker and pet owner, I often have scratches and cuts on my hand and hate the burning feeling and dryness that come with the sanitizers full of alcohol.  They had a nice fresh scent to them and I didn't need to moisturize after, which is always a bonus in my opinion!   They are pretty easy to get ahold of which is nice and can be found at Whole Foods as well as online sites like Amazon and Diapers.com.  These are easy to travel with, even in the teeniest of evening bags, so you can stay germ free anywhere you go.  I'd like to thank Influenster again for letting me try these for free, they are now a part of my flu season fight kit.  To all of you, make sure you keep yourself healthy this flu season by keeping hydrated, well rested, take your vitamins, washing your hands and using Clean Well Natural Hand Sanitizing wipes when you need to. Until we chat again, stay fabulous and HEALTHY!!   I'm leaving you the link so you can learn more about this awesome natural cleansing line.
http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/


XoXo,

Mitchy

Friday, October 5, 2012

My Fall Fashion must haves!!




Hello Darlings,

While on bed rest with this chest cold I have had time to reread my September issue of Vogue, page through the October issue and fawn over the sumptuous Fall fashions!!  As many of you know, Fall or Autumn depending on where you are from, is my favorite season of the year.  The colors of the outdoors change into magical hues, you can bring out all your coats, wool skirts with tights and boots and of course all the amazing accessories.  Thanks to upcoming films like Anna Karenina and The Great Gatsby, clothes are going back to old school glamour which is just fine with me!!   Look for faux fur trimming, rich fabrics and elegant costume jewelry thanks to Anna Karenina and 20's glam peeping through modern designs in homage to The Great Gatsby.  Personally I am happy that pretty is back, I would have loved to live in a plastic flip flop free world.  Banana Republic is going to carry a line inspired by Anna Karenina, the pictures I have seen so far a stunning!!  I have also noticed that snakes seem to be the "in" creature for jewelry right now, especially with all the snake cuffs, clutches, earrings and more coming out in the new limited edition collection by H&M.  Makeup for Fall is your standard red lips or smokey eye look but adding a stained berry lip with flush cheeks really will make you stand out from the other ladies this season.  Here are my must have chic classics for this Fall.  A snake jewelry statement piece, you don't need a whole lot of anything when you have this.  You get to look exotic and sexy and have every woman there coveting your bling.  A great pair of black knee leather boots.  I do mean leather since it breathes better and will last longer.  These look great with everything from jeans, skirts and dresses.  Invest in a classic pair and you will have them for a long time.  New or Vintage London Fog trench coat.  You can find vintage ones for a song where I live and they are so useful.  They look uber chic with wide leg trousers and a turtleneck  with a cute skirt and knee high boots or just a sweater and your favorite jeans.  They will help keep the wind and light rain off of you and you get to look like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Big purses are back (I never knew they left) and they come in a variety of colors, textures and prices.  Snake jewelry,  I have a Betsey Johnson cuff I got from little Black Bag which always gets me stopped when I am out.  That site is where I am finding most of this season's accessories.  I will leave a link to the website at the end of this, don't worry!!  My last and most important item is a good facial moisturizer, good hand cream and definitely a good lip conditioner.  Dry lips will never be in fashion and if you live where it gets really cold like I do, lip conditioner is a necessity.

Here are some picture of the fall snake jewelry pieces by Betsey Johnson




Here is the link to the lBB website where these can be bought along with handbags, jewelry and more!

http://www.littleblackbag.com?rf=YWxsIGdyZWF0IHNpdGVzIGRlc2VydmUgYSBncmVhdCBsYXVuY2g5NDQxNjA%3DLbbsePotLbbsePLbbsePLbbsePLbbsePLbbsePLbbseP&utm_medium=InviteLinkP&utm_campaign=UserReferral&utm_content=Invite_266291&utm_source=other

This website is addictive, just a heads up.
I hope this has given you a Diva's look into being Fall Fabulous!!  I hope you all enjoy your weekend, go out and enjoy the colors.  You might get some fashion inspiration from the changing trees.  Please keep checking back, the blog is about to get busy!!  If you like what you see please follow my blog and if you have any questions please feel free to ask at any time.  Have fun and be Fabulous!!


XoXo

Mitchy

Influenster's 2012 Natural VoxBox



Hello Darlings,

Right now your favorite Diva has a chest cold and am pulling a Camille (Garbo style) and taking to bed and not moving unless it is to go to my chaise lounge in the living room to watch a movie or read a book.  I have decided to  also use this time to tell you all about the cool products I have been able to try for free from Influenster!  The box came with some amazing and some not so amazing products.  The items in the box were Parissa natural wax ( I'm allergic to it so I have one of my baby diva's try it out), Clean Well Hand Sanitizer Wipes, The Original Drying Mat, LypSyl LypMoisturizer, EBoost natural energy boost, GeoDeo and Nectresse.  I'm going to give you a brief synopsis of them since I will be doing a blog on each product individually throughout the next few days.




Parissa Natural Hair Removal System:  I did the test patch as we all should do when trying out a new product.  Sadly I was allergic to it so I have given it to one of my girls to try for me.  I will update the blog with her opinion of it after she tries it.

Clean Well Hand Sanitizer Wipes:  I love that these are alcohol free and not full of chemicals. Left my hands soft and did not irritate the cut on my hand.

The Original Dish Drying Mat: One of my favorite items in the box.  I have found multiple uses for this.

LypSyl LypMoisturizer: Feels great on my lips and has the best packaging!

EBOOST:  A Natural Energy Booster, tastes good with a nice energy boost.

GeoDeo:  I did not have the best of luck with mine, will tell you all about it in it's own spot.

Nectresse:  A natural no calorie sweetener made with real sugar and a very bizarre fruit.

I hope you all are having a great weekend filled with fun and fabulousness!  I look forward to sharing more in depth product info with you about ALL the products listed above.  If you are not an influenster please feel free to ask me how to sign up via email.  I will be updating all weekend long with the new product reviews, so please keep checking back daily!  I'm off to Breakfast at Tiffany's, an EBOOST and a warm bubble bath.  Enjoy your weekend you glamours things!!

XoXo,

Mitchy